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PSA: help save some books
Mar. 31st, 2009 11:18 pmDue to ambiguous legislation passed by the US Congress and over-zealous reading of said legislation by yet another of Bush's screwed-up policy makers, children's books have been deemed to be a "lead hazard" and are soon to be illegal to own, buy, or sell. But, we have a chance to fix this.
The American Library Association is asking for support for H.R. 1692, which would amend the previous legislation to exempt books. Libraries all over the country are, understandably, concerned about essentially being put out of business unless the new bill passes the House and a counterpart bill is introduced and passed in the Senate. (I believe the original bill was a spending bill, which, Constitutionally, has to begin in the House, and why the amendment process is starting there.) What is needed is for everyone in the US to write to their Congressperson to support the bill.
Right now it is stuck in committee. If enough congresspeople sign-on as co-sponsors of the bill, that will move it out of committee through simple political pressure and then there will be a floor vote. If the vote on the floor is overwhelmingly in favor, that will then encourage a similar response in the Senate to pass it. I've not found anything quoting President Obama as taking a position on this one way or the other.
I did find this news story which has a decent explanation of the matter, including quotes from a CDC spokesperson.
The American Library Association is asking for support for H.R. 1692, which would amend the previous legislation to exempt books. Libraries all over the country are, understandably, concerned about essentially being put out of business unless the new bill passes the House and a counterpart bill is introduced and passed in the Senate. (I believe the original bill was a spending bill, which, Constitutionally, has to begin in the House, and why the amendment process is starting there.) What is needed is for everyone in the US to write to their Congressperson to support the bill.
Right now it is stuck in committee. If enough congresspeople sign-on as co-sponsors of the bill, that will move it out of committee through simple political pressure and then there will be a floor vote. If the vote on the floor is overwhelmingly in favor, that will then encourage a similar response in the Senate to pass it. I've not found anything quoting President Obama as taking a position on this one way or the other.
I did find this news story which has a decent explanation of the matter, including quotes from a CDC spokesperson.
